Italy deports 46 Egyptians over illegally entry

CAIRO: Cairo International Airport has received 46 Egyptians deportees from Italy after they were arrested while attempting to illegally enter into Italian waters in fishing boats, Youm7 reported Thursday.

The deportees arrived in Cairo on board a private plane, a source at the airport told Youm7. During investigations they said that they were introduced to “gangs” who assisted them in reaching Italy after they each paid 45,000 EGP (just over $5,000), according Youm7.

They departed Egypt from western Alexandria in their attempt to get to Italy.

Italy has deported hundreds of Egyptians over the past few months. Meanwhile, Egypt has arrested hundreds of Egyptians and foreigners before attempting to sail to Europe illegally.

A total of 50 Egyptians were deported from Italy over similar circumstances on May 17.

On May 3, Italy announced that its vessels rescued around 1,800 illegal migrants from different nationalities over a 24 hour period coming from North African countries, Reuters reported. The day before, a boat carrying 159 migrants from African nations and Yemen was intercepted by Egyptian authorities off the Mediterranean shore during an attempt to travel to southern Europe.